Who would've that even before Martial Arts hit Hollywood, here in the Philippines our great ancestors tracing back to more than 1500 to 2000 years ago had been practicing our very own Martial Arts to survive and to help others in times of danger.

And last week, as I was invited to witness more than 2000 police trainees celebrate their annual Sportfest at Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba, Laguna, I also get a broader knowledge of the Filipino Martial Arts that they call Pekiti-Tirsia Lakan Kali.

Led by P/Supt Serafin Fortuno Petalio II, DSC, Training Director of Institute Training Group, more than 2000 trainees joined the fun and excitement as they officially opened this year's Sportfest. It was said that Miss Ting Ting Cojuangco is one of the major contributor of the success of this whole group, but since she was not available during that time, she was represented by her beautiful daughter Mikaela Maria Antonia Cojuangco-Jaworski or Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski in short.

Fanmode: I'm a fan of Mikee, so the moment she stepped out of her car, I can help but to keep on taking a picture of her. She's as beautiful as ever and was able to keep that sweet innocent smile. Hahaha!

Anyway, Mikee was welcomed by the officers and staff of Philippine Public Safety College, primarily P/Supt Serafin Fortuno Petalio II, DSC. The moment Mikee arrived, the blessings of the new ITG main gate and administration building took place and marked the beginning of highlight of the day.

For those who do not know yet, P/Supt Serafin Fortuno Petalio II, DSC spearheaded the Pekiti-Tirsia Kali. And base on my research on this Filipino Martial Arts, I learned that Kali is the indigenous fighting art of the Philippines. The Pekiti-Tirsia system of Kali is the family system of the Tortal Family, which is headed by the only sole heir Grandtuhon Leo Tortal Gaje, Jr. Right from the beginning Pekiti-Tirsia Kali convinces with its logical and consequent Self-protection System, which is based on the Strategic and Tactical application of Counter-Offensive techniques as defense.

According to the writings, Pekiti-Tirsia Kali's important part is its positive, life appreciating philosophy: To believe in Life, in Good Health, and to believe in Success. Full understanding of Pekiti-Tirsia as a living Martial Art leads to continuous improvement and continued adaptation of its methods to new demands. Because of this, Pekiti-Tirsia Kali today still is a valuable and practical Survival Art.

And on that day, under the undeniable knowledge of P/Supt Serafin Fortuno Petalio II, DSC on this Filipino Martial Arts, the 2000 trainees demonstrated to all of us the moves that Pekiti-Tirsia Kali holds. From the awareness to fighting in ranged to medium, to close quarters and ground fighting, to fighting out of different angles and positions, to counter offense as defense against unarmed and armed attacks (stick, sword, knife, firearms and to Counter offense as defense against single or multiple opponents, we were amazed as to how this unique self-defense mechanism can be handy to many of our people to protect themselves in case of danger and emergency.

As Grandtuhon Gaje says, "Pekiti-Tirsia Kali is the Art of Modern times in the living past!" In Pekiti-Tirsia Kali updated (martial) arts technology merges with lived tradition! The practical use and counter offence against impact and edged weapons has always been and still is the focus of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali training. That's why Pekiti-Tirsia Kali is today as up-to-date as it was 50, 100 or 300 years before.

Aside from the demonstration showed to us by the police trainees, trainers also demonstrated to the 5 main weapon categories that includes the human body - Solo - Single stick, sword or spear, Doble - Double stick or sword, Espada y Daga - Sword and Dagger, Daga y Daga - Knife to Knife and Mano y Mano - Hand to Hand.

And to add more excitement to the P/Supt Serafin Fortuno Petalio II, DSC showed to us his prowess skill in Pekiti-Tirsia Lakan Kali.

This just made more proud as a Filipino. And I think, for something like this, it is just rightful to get everyone's attention to help this spread out and let everyone be taught of this technique to protect themselves from all the danger in our environment.

Congratulations, Philippine Public Safety College - Institute Training Group, most especially to P/Supt Serafin Fortuno Petalio II, DSC and to the people behind this great cause! Kudos to you guys!

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Alex de Vera Dizon, currently a full-time Digital Marketing and Communications Officer in one of the largest property developers in Southeast Asia, started writing his online journal back in 2005 where he met different online personalities and established his own community of readers and bloggers. It was in 2009 when he officially launched his own websiteRecycle Bin of a Middle Child.